Deuteronomy 25:5

¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.

If brethren {H251} dwell {H3427} together {H3162}, and one {H259} of them die {H4191}, and have no child {H1121}, the wife {H802} of the dead {H4191} shall not marry without {H2351} unto a stranger {H376}{H2114}: her husband's brother {H2993} shall go in {H935} unto her, and take {H3947} her to him to wife {H802}, and perform the duty of an husband's brother {H2992} unto her.

"If brothers live together, and one of them dies childless, his widow is not to marry someone unrelated to him; her husband's brother is to go to her and perform the duty of a brother-in-law by marrying her.

When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.

If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:5 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 25:5 lays out a specific law concerning family duty and inheritance within ancient Israel, known as levirate marriage. This statute addresses the situation when a married man dies without leaving a child, particularly a male heir, and his brothers live nearby.

Context

This verse is part of a collection of miscellaneous laws given by Moses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. These laws cover various aspects of civil, social, and religious life, ensuring justice, order, and the preservation of family lines and property within the community. The law of levirate marriage was crucial for maintaining the family name and ensuring the widow's welfare in a society where a woman's security often depended on her husband's family.

Key Themes

  • Levirate Marriage: The central theme is the practice where a brother of the deceased husband is obligated to marry the widow. The term "levirate" comes from the Latin levir, meaning "husband's brother."
  • Preservation of Family Lineage: The primary purpose was for the first son born from this union to be considered the heir of the deceased brother, thus continuing his name and preventing his inheritance from being lost from the family.
  • Protection of the Widow: This law also served to protect the childless widow, who might otherwise be left destitute and without social standing or support. By marrying her husband's brother, she remained within the family structure.
  • Duty and Obligation: The verse emphasizes the "duty of an husband's brother," highlighting the strong social and familial obligation placed upon the brother in this situation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her" translates the Hebrew concept of yibbum. The brother involved is called the yabam (brother-in-law). This wasn't merely a suggestion but a binding social and legal obligation designed to uphold the family structure and inheritance laws of the time.

Reflection and Application

While the specific practice of levirate marriage is not followed today, understanding this law provides insight into the values of ancient Israelite society, particularly the importance placed on family, inheritance, and the care of vulnerable members like widows. The principle of community responsibility and looking after those in need resonates throughout scripture. The requirement for a brother to "go in unto her, and take her to him to wife" highlights a duty that superseded personal preference for the sake of the family's continuity. This law is exemplified later in the Bible in the story of Boaz acting as a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth, fulfilling a similar protective role. This custom was also the basis of a question posed to Jesus by the Sadducees, recorded in Matthew 22:24.

For modern readers, this verse serves as a historical example of how God's law addressed specific social needs in a particular cultural context, emphasizing justice and the preservation of family identity and well-being.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 22:24 (11 votes)

    Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • Luke 20:28 (10 votes)

    Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • Mark 12:19 (9 votes)

    Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave [his] wife [behind him], and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • Genesis 38:8 (8 votes)

    And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

  • Genesis 38:9 (8 votes)

    And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

  • Ruth 1:12 (7 votes)

    Turn again, my daughters, go [your way]; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, [if] I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

  • Ruth 1:13 (7 votes)

    Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.